Merry Christmas! None of my Russian friends celebrate this day, and how about you? I arrived at my desk this morning, opened LJ and read this funny post. I'm passing it along for all the single, lonely ladies in America. Maybe you're desperate for a Russian man? After all, we have no options here - all American men are stupid and gay! :)) I don't know what "кончиттывурст" means and online translation doesn't work for the term. What is the English equivalent? Honestly, I can't tell if some posts in the pora_valit community are serious, or subtle trolling/sarcasm? I rarely understand Russian humor.

Perhaps this is a new way to fund my travels? :) Marry foreigners desperate for U.S. citizenship in exchange for payment? What do you think? :)) A reader today asked me to write a post about the differences between American and Russian women, but I don't know many Russian females, so I can't provide an informed opinion on the topic. All of my close Russian friends are men. Maybe some of my readers now living in the U.S. wish to provide insight?

No!! :)) I have no desire to be married, and the man who wrote that post doesn't even speak English. :)) So, how would we communicate? I don't think most Russian men would like my personality or lifestyle.

Hello! I write about a lot of countries, not just Russia. You can search the tags on the left side of my blog. There you will find stories from Estonia, Lativa, Israel, Palestine, Poland, Slovakia... a lot of places. :) And, of course, my home country - the beautiful USA! :)

кончитывурст - it's Conchita Wurst, the guy/lady who won the Eurovision song contest last year. I don't think people in the US watch this show, so in case you haven't seen Conchita just google her - I find her fantastic, and the song is pretty good.

This post is definitely trolling :) (I can't believe there are men stupid enogh to write this seriously, even in Russia).

We don't watch this show, but most people in America know Conchita! :) The winner of Eurovision is always covered in U.S. news. I believe the most masterful and funny trolls exist in that community! I always get a good laugh reading the comments there. Pity my Russian is not better. :(

That's right, I don't have any Russian friends who are religious. However, some of my American acquaintances are. Remember, I went to a conservative, religious school my whole life, and have maintained connections with some of my former classmates.

I suppose all your friends are russofobes, and they hate all connected with Russia, holidays, people, culture. There are many such people, living in Russia. Christmas is great holiday in Russia and all my friends and close families celebrate this holiday.

No, all my friends aren't Russophobes. They just aren't religious. As far as I know, Christmas in Russia is a purely religious holiday, whereas in America Christmas is celebrated by everyone and has become secular in many ways. How do you celebrate? Just by going to church, or there are other traditions?

A while ago I, right after coming here, I was thinking about a marriage agency whereby poor Hispanic girls would find talented Russian programmers, marry, the programmers come over and earn good money, the girls are not poor anymore, profit for both parties.

Later, with some experience, I figured this is hardly possible at all, only in a poem. People are too different. A Russian man would hardly interest a Hispanic girl, he just can't behave with decency. And a Hispanic girl will look totally dumb in the eyes of a Russian programmer. With probably very rare exceptions. Sad, though.

A Russian and Hispanic...yes, it's an odd cultural combination. :)) I sometimes don't even understand the behavior of my male friends from Russia, so yes there's a lot of distinctions in the way Americans and Russians interact with one another and behave in general. Not good or bad, just different.